National Treasure: Standing Statue of Juichimen Kannon in Kogen-ji Temple
Shiga Prefecture
Kougenji-temple belongs to the Otani school of Shinshu and is located 650m north east from Takatsuki station. The temple is commonly known as Dogan-ji Kannon-do. It is said that Taichou made the Juichimen Kannon (eleven-headed Kannon) at the request of Emperor Shoumu. Then he founded the Kannon-do (Kannn hall) in order to enshrine the statue. Later, the temple prospered after Saichou built seven other temple halls. The temple was once burnt down during the battle of Oda and Asai during the Age of the Civil Wars. However the statue was buried underground and managed to survive. This statue of Juichimen Kannon has elegant and classy curves from the eyebrows to the nose, and the way the hips are twisted a little to left is quite suggestive.
Address
50, Doganji, Takatsuki-cho, Ika county
Access (nearest railway station)
10 minutes on foot from "Takazuki" station on the JR Hokuriku Honsen line. / 15 minutes by car from Kinomoto IC on Hokuriku Expressway.
Hours
9:00～16:00
Closed
Open throughout the year
Entry fee
Buddha statue viewing fee 300yen
Parking
Parking for 30 passenger cars and 5 large-sized buses
Inquiries
Dougan-ji Kannon-dou 0749-85-2632